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The Bombay High Court has issued an interim order temporarily stopping a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme on over 3.5 acres of land designated for Mumbai University. The university claims the land, acquired for academic purposes between 1967 and 1974, was improperly recorded, leading to encroachment and its notification as a slum without the university's knowledge. Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor expressed concern over public land being used for slum redevelopment due to the government's failure to prevent encroachment. The court adjourned the matter to August 11, seeking replies from all parties involved, to clarify whether SRA can approve such a scheme on land meant for a public institution.
The Bombay High Court has temporarily halted a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme planned on over 3.5 acres of land. This land was originally acquired for Bombay University between 1967 and 1974, intended for academic purposes. Advertisement
The university claims that despite the acquisition, the land was not properly recorded in their name. This oversight, they argue, led to encroachment on the property, and the land being later notified as a slum area without the university's knowledge or consent.
Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor of the High Court expressed concern over this situation. They noted that land meant for the university's future academic needs is now subject to slum redevelopment due to encroachment. The university is arguing that the land was never intended for slum rehabilitation or for the benefit of encroachers and private developers.
The High Court has emphasized the state government's crucial role in providing documents related to the original land acquisition. The court also questioned whether the SRA has the authority to approve a slum scheme on land specifically acquired for a public purpose like a university.
The court has adjourned the matter to August 11, asking for replies and rejoinders from all parties involved. The primary issue, as highlighted by the court, is that land acquired for a public purpose such as a university should not be used for encroachers and a slum rehabilitation scheme, especially when the state failed to properly hand over the land or remove existing encroachments.
This ruling highlights the complexities of land ownership and slum rehabilitation projects in densely populated urban areas like Mumbai.
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